Chapter 17 – This Girl Is a Real Fox Spirit

As she walked alongside Auntie Ma, the woman whispered, “Did you know? Now that Guifang’s family finally has a bit of money, she’s already sending it all back to her maiden family. You didn’t see it, but Su family’s eldest had a basket filled with heavy stuff—clearly valuable. I bet at least half of the things that girl from the Su family brought back have ended up in Wangjia Village.”

Just like that, the gossip spread like wildfire.

Huang Lanying had overheard everything.

Her face darkened, and she stormed home.

The moment she walked in the door, she kicked over a basket that Su Dahe had just finished weaving.

Su Dahe looked startled and stared at his furious wife. “What are you throwing a fit about now? That basket was promised to someone—if it gets ruined, I won’t have time to fix it.”

“Weaving, weaving, all you ever do is weave this useless crap. Why can’t you be more like your second brother? He’s raking in the cash these days!”

Su Dahe frowned. “Why are you bringing up Erhe again? Things aren’t exactly easy for him either.”

Huang Lanying grabbed his ear in frustration. “You’re the only idiot around here! His family just got 300 yuan from the Zhang family, they’re eating meat and drinking soup every day. And what about you? You haven’t even managed to get a fart out of the whole situation!”

“You, the eldest brother, are living off gruel, while the good stuff all goes to Wangjia Village. What a big dumb ox you are.”

Su Dahe calmly continued weaving. “Erhe and his wife have done a lot to help the family. They’ve got more kids—sending a little over is no big deal.”

Huang Lanying was so mad she was practically foaming at the mouth. “And you? Have we not already sent over more than enough? In the end, they just don’t take you seriously.”

“Also, what about the 50 yuan you lent him? You’re not even thinking about asking for it back? Our son’s getting married, and as his father, you’re just sitting there like nothing’s wrong.”

Su Dahe looked up steadily. “Didn’t that boy say he didn’t need our help?”

“Oh, and you just believed him? Since when did you become the hands-off kind? These days, what kind of groom doesn’t need help preparing for the wedding?”

“Aiyo aiyo, you’re going to be the death of me!” she clutched her chest dramatically. “I don’t care! You’re going over there today to get that money back!”

Su Dahe looked troubled. “Erhe already owes so much, we can’t pressure them now…”

“Aiyo! What, you think you’re the only good person left on earth?”

Just as she reached for his ear again, she turned and saw a dainty little girl standing at the door with a bowl in her hands.

Her mouth dropped wide enough to swallow an egg.

“Uncle, Auntie…”

As soon as Su Nianzhi’s soft and gentle voice rang out, Huang Lanying immediately pulled her hand back.

Su Dahe cleared his throat. “Zhizhi, what brings you over right now? Do you need something from your uncle?”

Su Nianzhi quietly held out a small basket.
“Uncle, my mom asked me to bring you some braised pork.”

Then she pulled out five da tuanjie (large-denomination bills) from her pocket.

“And my dad said now that the family has money, we should repay the debt.”

Huang Lanying’s face flushed red.

Su Nianzhi set the basket down and turned to leave.

But she heard Huang Lanying call after her: “Where are you running off to, girl? You think your aunt’s going to eat you?”

Huang Lanying quickly pulled the contents out of the basket. “Wait a second.”

She ducked into the kitchen and came back with a few carrots, a handful of cowpeas, cucumbers, and other vegetables, which she stuffed into the basket.

“Take these home—your aunt picked them yesterday when she went back to her mother’s house. If it’s not enough, just come back.”

Su Nianzhi looked at the full basket of vegetables and gave Huang Lanying a sweet, heart-melting smile.

“Thank you, Auntie.”

Then she picked up the basket and left.

Watching that graceful, lovely figure walk away, Huang Lanying was still stunned by how breathtaking Su Nianzhi’s smile had been.

“This girl really is something else… How can anyone be this beautiful?”

That one smile just now—heavens, it nearly cost her her soul.

If any young man saw that, they’d probably lose their mind.

Tsk tsk, she thought. She had no idea how Old Second and his wife managed to have such a beautiful daughter.

Must’ve taken after the Wang family’s side.

She turned to see her husband still frowning at the five da tuanjie(large-denomination bills)  in his hand.

Feeling a little guilty, she muttered, “Maybe you should tell Old Second he can pay it back later?”

Su Dahe sighed. “Since he’s already returned it, we’ll just keep it.”

He kept weaving as he spoke.
“From now on, stop listening to those gossipy women outside.”

Huang Lanying clicked her tongue and picked up the bowl of glistening braised pork.

Even she wouldn’t have splurged on something so nice.

She brought the meat into the kitchen, covered it with a bamboo lid, and laid a cloth over it.

She’d ask her sister-in-law next time if they still had any malted milk powder. She wanted to get some for that little girl—so skinny, like a twig.

Earlier, she had just been provoked by Liu Broken-Mouth and got carried away.

And recently, her son’s marriage prospects had been a source of stress. The girl’s family had too many demands—three rounds and one sound! How could a family like theirs possibly afford that?

Not to mention the money—even getting the required ration tickets was impossible for someone like her.

Sigh, children really are a lifelong debt.

Meanwhile, Su Nianzhi was on her way home with the basket.

Halfway there, she was suddenly blocked by Er Laizi.

He glared at her darkly. “I heard you spent a lot of money buying stuff? Don’t you know you’re not supposed to waste money?”

Su Nianzhi: ??? What the hell, is this guy brain-damaged?

“Move.”

But when Er Laizi saw her pretty face, his mind started wandering.

He reached out to grab her hand—

Without hesitation, Su Nianzhi lifted her foot and unleashed a three-part combo straight out of a “self-defense against perverts” manual.

One stomp on the foot.
A swift kick to the vital area.
And then she smashed her basket right into Er Laizi’s face.

Blood immediately streamed down his cheek.

She didn’t even pause.

She just turned and walked away without giving a single glance to the howling Er Laizi, who was now rolling on the ground in pain, screaming for his mom.

Nearby, Qin Xiaoyun had been about to step in, but slowly pulled back his fist.

He instinctively tightened his legs.

That kick just now? He was pretty sure Er Laizi had just had a spiritual encounter with his ancestors.

His lips curved into a faint smile.

No one noticed the subtle trace of affection hiding in it—even Qin Xiaoyun himself didn’t realize it.

He looked down coldly at the still-screaming Er Laizi.

“I heard… you want to propose marriage to the Su family?”

This tidbit had come from that kid Chen Wei—his mom was a matchmaker. Apparently, Er Laizi’s mom had asked her to arrange the proposal.

But Chen Wei’s mom was an honorable matchmaker. There was no way she’d agree to something like that—she’d turned them down on the spot.

She is a matchmaker, not a bad luck charmer.

Er Laizi’s mom had even cursed her out as she left, saying she wasn’t the only matchmaker in town.

Chen Wei’s mom chased her away with a stick.

Now facing the tall and imposing Qin Xiaoyun, Er Laizi stammered, “I-I didn’t…”

Qin Xiaoyun radiated a natural air of menace. The aura of the battlefield seemed to cling to him.

Er Laizi was so terrified, he didn’t even feel the pain between his legs anymore.

“You’d better give up that idea. If I ever find out you’re targeting her—I’ll kill you.”

Er Laizi looked at Qin Xiaoyun’s face—scared and angry—but there was nothing he could do. He was no match for him.

So he limped away.

Not far ahead, his gaze suddenly fell on Lu Jiajia heading toward the Zhang family…